Am I A Foot Coach?

 
 
 

I am in John 13 in case you did not figure that out. The second of Peter's replies to Jesus' attempt to wash his feet was "Never shall you wash my feet!." Impulsive Peter! He so often speaks without thinking, without realizing what he is saying (sounds like a possible presidential candidate to me). What he says sound noble. He recognized from day one that the sinful was in the presence of holiness. (Luke 5:8)  Here he recognizes greatness touching leastness. He knew who Jesus was. He had confessed that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (Matthew 16) But somehow Peter thought it was up to him to manage the relationship. How could someone know who Jesus is, i.e. Lord, and think that Jesus needs to be managed? That somehow Jesus is going to do something inappropriate? Peter is treating Jesus like a very good man who in his naivete just did things that did not match who He was. Jesus did not need a handler, a manager or a PR person. He was more than capable of running His own life. And Peter-sinful man he was actually thought that he was capable of guiding and coaching Jesus. Peter thought this foot-washing thing was a dumb idea. Bless Peter's heart! He wanted Jesus to look good and this, he thought, was beneath Jesus' dignity and station. So Peter's going to stop this charade and get Jesus off His knees and back at the head of the table where He belongs. Notice that Peter does not say "let me do that Jesus-give me the towel-I'll finish the job." Was it Peter's humility that got in the way or his pride? Was he too humble to let Jesus wash his dirty feet or was he too proud to let Jesus wash his dirty feet? Literally Peter said, "By no means shalt thou wash unto me the feet unto the age." This was emphatic-never means never-but does it, or only never as long as Peter held on to the idea that he knew better than Jesus. This is a fundamental flaw that will pop up again in Peter's life. (Acts 10-11) Later Peter will use "never"-"I have never eaten anything unclean" implying "and I never will." He ate those words too.

 

This one single thought correction could save us so much struggle: Jesus knows what He is doing even when He is doing it to us. If we just stop talking and start receiving we surely will have a freer life.